Wal," said he, at last, "'tain't often I have you; an' now I got
you, I ain't goin' to let you go for a good bit yet. Besides, you
can't ever tell when you're safe. Nothin' like makin' things sure, I
say."

With these words Zac kept on his way, though at a slower pace. It was
not necessary for him to fly so rapidly, nor was he quite so fresh as
when he started. Margot also noticed this, and began to insist so
vehemently on getting down, that he was compelled to grant her
request. He still held her hand, however, and thus the two went on
for some distance farther.

At last they reached a point where there was an abrupt and almost
precipitous descent. From this crest of the precipice the eye could
wander over a boundless prospect of green forest, terminated in the
distance by wooded hills.

"Wal," said Zac, "I think we may as well rest ourselves here."

"Dat is ver nice," said Margot.

Zac now arranged a seat for her by gathering some moss at the foot of
a tree. She seated herself here, and Zac placed himself by her side.
He then opened a bag which he carried slung about his shoulders, and
brought forth some biscuit and ham, which proved a most grateful
repast to his companion.

"Do you tink dey chase us here?" asked Margot.

"Wal, we're safer here, ef they do," said Zac. "We can't be taken by
surprise in the rear, for they can't climb up very easy without our
seein' 'em; an' as for a front attack, why, I'll keep my eye open:
an' I'd like to see the Injin or the Moosoo that can come unawars on
me. I don't mind two or three of 'em, any way," continued Zac, "for
I've got a couple of bulldogs."

"Boul-dogs?" said Margot, inquiringly.

"Yes, these here," said Zac, opening his frock, and displaying a belt
around his waist, which held a brace of pistols. "But I don't expect
I'll have to use 'em, except when I heave in sight of the skewner,
an' want to hail 'em."

"But we are loss," said Margot, "in dis great woos. How sall we ever
get any whar out of him?"

"O, that's easy enough," said Zac. "I know all about the woods, and
can find my way anywhars. My idee is, to go back towards the trail,
strike into it, an' move along slowly an' cautiously, till we git
nigh the place whar I left the skewner."

Zac waited in this place till towards evening, and then started once
more. He began to retrace his steps in a direction which he judged
would ultimately strike the trail, along which he had resolved to go.
He had weigh